By KT Reporter
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms helped resolve more than 8,000 cases in 2025, contributing to a reduction in the Judiciary’s case backlog, Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija has said.
Speaking at the 1st Annual Alternative Dispute Resolution Performance Review Meeting held at the Supreme Court Conference Hall on Friday, Justice Zeija noted that mediation alone disposed of 5,246 cases, while plea bargaining concluded about 3,000 criminal matters between January and November 2025.
He added that the Judiciary’s overall backlog declined from 26.32 per cent to 24.20 per cent, continuing a steady downward trend recorded over the past five years. According to the Chief Justice, these gains demonstrate that ADR is no longer an experimental concept but a practical solution delivering timely, affordable, and people-centred justice.
Alternative Dispute Resolution is a method of settling disputes without litigation. It encompasses processes such as mediation, arbitration, conciliation, negotiation, and transaction, all of which involve a neutral third party who assists disputing parties in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.
Justice Zeija explained that ADR is anchored in Article 126 of the Constitution, which requires justice to be administered in conformity with the values, norms, and aspirations of the people of Uganda. He noted that the formalisation of the ADR Registry in April 2024 elevated mediation and other alternative justice mechanisms into the mainstream of judicial case management.
Beyond the statistics, Justice Zeija said mediation has unlocked long-standing disputes, citing the resolution between the estate of the late Mohammed Buwule Kasasa and the Kingdom of Buganda, which led to the release of assets valued at 1.3 trillion Shillings.
However, he acknowledged persistent challenges, including low referral rates, resource constraints, data integrity gaps, and resistance to non-adversarial justice approaches. To address these concerns, the Judiciary plans to intensify training and public sensitisation to counter negative perceptions and strengthen ADR uptake.
Justice Zeija also revealed the pilot rollout of the Alternative Justice System in the Acholi sub-region, aimed at harmonising formal justice processes with community-based dispute resolution mechanisms. He commended Chief Justice Emeritus Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and Deputy Chief Justice Emeritus Richard Buteera for their role in strengthening ADR in Uganda.
The Chief Justice further urged mediators to remain committed to professionalism, patience, and integrity, describing them as key partners in judicial transformation. Meanwhile, Judiciary Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana said ADR is advancing both timely justice delivery and responsible stewardship of public resources.
“ADR is not only about speed. It is about delivering justice with fairness, respect and accessibility, especially for those who would otherwise be excluded from the formal justice system,” Bigirimana said. He added that the review reaffirmed ADR as an efficient, fair, and inclusive alternative to conventional litigation, noting that the initiative has demonstrated its potential to resolve disputes cost-effectively and with dignity.
Bigirimana emphasised that meaningful progress now requires moving beyond review to implementation, pledging that the Judiciary will mobilise resources and translate the report’s recommendations into measurable results.
Addressing the pressure facing the courts, Chief Registrar Pamela Lamunu Ocaya said the growing caseload makes it impossible for the Judiciary to rely solely on adversarial litigation.
Lamunu revealed that the National Court Census Report 2025, launched earlier this week, shows the national caseload has risen from 114,000 cases in 2015 to 167,000 cases. She noted that although the Judiciary’s budget has increased from 190 billion Shillings to 440 billion Shillings, and the number of judicial officers has grown to 707, case backlog remains a major challenge.
“It is humanly impossible to manage this volume of cases through purely adversarial processes. Strengthening and institutionalising ADR is therefore imperative for the Judiciary to realise its vision and mission,” Lamunu said, adding that faster case disposal is critical to restoring and strengthening public confidence in the justice system.
The high-level meeting, held under the theme “ADR as a Cornerstone of Effective and Efficient Justice Delivery,” brought together Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, High Court judges, lower bench judicial officers, members of senior management, ADR practitioners, justice sector stakeholders, as well as religious and cultural leaders to assess ADR performance for 2025.
The meeting was chaired by the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, and featured the presentation of the ADR Annual Performance Report by the Focal Judge in charge of ADR, Justice Andrew Khaukha, together with the ADR Registry team.
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